WEBVTT MATT: CREWS CONTINUE TO BATTLE AWILDFIRE IN NORTHEAST MARIONCOUNTY THAT THREATENED HOMES ANDDESTROYED MORE THAN 720 ACRES.>> SCARY, DANGEROUS.MATT: PAULA HILL DID NOT HAVE TOBE EVACUATED BUT SAYS SHE'SNERVOUS.>> WE SAW IT START UP SOUTH SIDEOF US AND JUST COMPLETELY SPREAD.IT STARTED GOING ALL THE WAYAROUND US.MATT: THERE'S STILL A LOT OFSMOKE IN THE AREA.YOU CAN SEE POCKETS BEHIND ME.RIGHT NOW, FIRE CREWS AREPLOWING FIRE LINES TO TRY TOCONTAIN THE FIRE.IN THE LAST 24 HOURS, 50 HOMESHAD TO BE EVACUATED, BUT CREWSSAY MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVEAROUND HERE WANTED TO STAY HERE.JAMES LUCAS: WE HAVE RECOMMENDEDTHAT RESIDENTS IN THE FIRE ZONEEVACUATE THEIR STRUCTURES, BUTTHEY HAVE NOT BEEN ORDERED TOLEAVE.MATT: JAMES LUCAS WITH MARIONCOUNTY FIRE RESCUE SAYSRESIDENTS WERE ALLOWED TO RETURNTO THEIR HOMES FRIDAY NIGHT.WINDS PUSHED THE FIRE TO THESOUTHWEST AS CREWS BEGIN BURNINGVEGETATION TO PREVENT IT FROMSPREADING FURTHER.ONE NEARBY RESIDENT HAD TO BETAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FORBREATHING PROBLEMS. NO ONE ELSE HAS BEEN INJURED,AND OFFICIALS SAY AT THE MOMENTNO HOMES ARE IN DANGER.AS FOR WHAT MAY HAVE CAUSEDALL OF THIS OFFICIALS WITH THE, FLORIDA FOREST SERVICE SAYTHIS FIRE WAS NO ACCIDENT.>> THEY'RE LOOKING AT IT ASBEING SUSPICIOUS, SO THAT WOULDMEAN IT'S NOT ACCIDENTAL.MATT: AGRICULTURE LAWENFORCEMENT AGENTS ARE ON SCENEINVESTIGATING.MEANTIME, PAULA HILL IS KEEPINGA CLOSE EYE ON THE FIRE WHICHSHE CAN SEE FROM HER HOME TWOMILES AWAY.>> IT IS SO DRY OUT HERE.IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU WANTCERTAINLY IN THE WOODS LIKE THIS

Fire crews continue to battle a wildfire in northeast Marion County, Florida, that threatened homes and destroyed more than 720 acres Saturday.

“Scary. Dangerous,” said resident Paula Hill, who did not have to be evacuated. “We saw it start up south side of us and just completely spread. It started going all the way around us.”

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There is still a lot of smoke in the area. Trees are blackened. Inside the woods you can see pockets of smoke billowing from the ground. Fire crews plowed fire lines to try to contain the fire. In the past 24 hours, 50 homes had to be evacuated.

Residents were allowed to return to their homes Friday night. Officials recommended a second evacuation Saturday but residents did not want to move, No homes were in danger, said James Lucas, with Marion County Fire Rescue.

“We have recommended residents in the fire zone evacuate their structures,” Lucas said. “But they have not been ordered to leave.”

Winds pushed the fire to the southwest as crews began burning vegetation to prevent it from spreading further. One nearby resident had to be taken to the hospital for minor breathing problems, Lucas said. No one else has been injured, he said.

By Saturday night the fire was 60 percent contained, said Lucas. He expects it to continue smoking for several weeks.

As for what caused all of this, the Florida Forest Service says this fire was no accident.

“They’re looking at is as being suspicious,” said Ludie Bond with Florida Forest Service. “So that would mean it’s not accidental.”

Agriculture law enforcement agents are at the scene investigating and examining the spot believed to be where the fire started. It is unclear why investigators, at this stage, believe the fire was intentionally set.

In the meantime, Hill is keeping a close eye on the fire, which she can see from her home 2 miles away.

“It’s so dry out here,” she said. “It’s not something you want, certainly in the woods like this, in your backyard.”